Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor – an inspirational icon – Malaysia’s first astronaut…
![it’s all in the mind Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijNUSQ5EZlvlMMddJRpmoXpdmxu0lxFUJIziA_WEBtrHIknEXF1V5_H58lY8lhZDEJTL9tNhLnTglA8jujaShNbAX2BwiKrKoOfTyM_riVmDLcqGmRAdiRrFRogCg7j-UFqnTNz-1KYOQ/s200/Datuk%20Dr%20Sheikh%20Muszaphar%20Shukor.jpg)
What a surprise it was for me to be able to get up close and personal with Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor. He’s known in Malaysia as the “angkasawan” because he’s the first Malaysian to go to space. Will there be others following in his footsteps? According to Dr. Sheikh, dreams are possible!
At the 30-minute inspirational talk that he gave to students and members of the public at Minggu Saham Amanah Malaysia (Amanah Saham Malaysia Investment Week) MSAM 2011, Dr. Sheikh, who is actually an orthopedic surgeon and part time model, stressed the fact that we can achieve our goals if we set our mind to it. Mental strength is the most important ingredient in one’s success. Of course physical strength is important as well, especially in space travel, but in many cases, we are our own worst enemy.
Two basic factors that make or break one’s ambition in being an astronaut are something as common as tooth refill and surgery. Based on these factors alone, I believe the majority of the more than 11,000 hopefuls who underwent the preliminary trials with Dr. Sheikh to select Malaysia’s first astronaut, were eliminated because they had a tooth refilled or they underwent a surgical procedure previously.
I have to say that Dr. Sheikh is very good looking in real life but somehow NONE of the many photos that I shot turned out good. I wonder why! I’m so disappointed I could cry. Luckily, I have Dr. Sheikh’s autograph to salvage the disaster! Looks like I’ve outgrown my camera yet again.